Mom Interviews

Ingrid Hoffmann, of the Food Network's "Simply Delicioso"

TV personality, cookbook author, and chef

Ingrid Hoffmann has always been passionate about food. The daughter of a Cordon Bleu chef, she remembers standing on a stool to reach the stove in order to help her mother cook. The Colombian-raised Hoffmann was a successful business owner before she decided to cater to her passion for cooking, opening Rocca in Miami and hosting cooking segments on South Florida TV stations.

She claimed the national spotlight with the launch of her The Food Network show Simply Delicioso last July; her Spanish-language cooking and style show, Delicioso, airs on Galavision/Univision. She's the latest spokesperson for the famed "Got Milk?" campaign, and took some time to chat with us about cooking and how busy moms can make mealtime easier. The busy stepmom of two boys lives in Florida.

What’s your go-to meal to make when you don’t have much time to cook?

My go-to meal when I don’t have time to cook is my “Latin Elvis” -- it’s like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich with a Latin twist. I love the Latin Elvis because it contains items that I always keep in my house: plantains, peanut butter, and bread containing dried fruit like raisins or cranberries. I like to grill the sandwich or do it on the stove or in a skillet because I’m convinced that a warm meal is so much more wholesome and it sure beats a cold salad. This with a glass of milk is perfect -- a complete, quick meal.

What’s your favorite comfort food?

I would have to say that my favorite comfort food is my Chipotle Tamale Pie. [You can watch Ingrid make this dish in a live cooking demonstration on Sept. 9, 2009, at WhyMilk.com.] It is a great recipe and a great comfort food. The Chipotle Tamale Pie is one of those crowd pleasers that could feed an army on a small budget. It has turkey, beans and milk, lots of rich foods, yet it is surprisingly light. I especially love it because it contains tons of healthy foods like bell peppers and nutritious lowfat milk, yet it doesn’t taste like health food.

I like to use lowfat or fat free milk as opposed to cream or butter because it keeps the dish lighter and healthier. Plus, with lowfat and fat free milk, you are receiving nine essential nutrients that no other beverage can provide. I also like to make this casserole in advance, portion it off and store it in the refrigerator or freezer. Let’s say I come home really tired from a long day at work, all I have to do is quickly warm it up!

What's your favorite food indulgence?

My favorite indulgence is hearty comfort food. Aside from the Chipotle Tamale Pie which I just mentioned, I love to make a Cuban Frita -- it’s a type of Cuban hamburger. What makes it different from an American burger is that I mix the meat with egg, milk, and breadcrumbs and then I top it with shoestring potatoes. It’s a special treat and such a warming comfort food -- it brings back that nostalgia of sharing a meal with my family.